4 Steps: Coupon Shopping

Who says there’s no such thing as free money? Those who have mastered the art of coupon shopping know there is. To them, that little scrap of paper that says “.75¢ off” is a real opportunity for big savings; they see dollar signs, not added hassle to their shopping routine. Therein lays the rub: The provisos that accompany coupons — or the effort involved in using them — often give them a stigma, which leaves people with a why-bother mentality. (It’s free money, that’s why!) However, coupon shopping can be easy, fun and very economical; you just have to understand a few basic strategies for using them hassle-free and to their full effect.

So, during these lean economic times, in an attempt to add some discretionary dollars back into your budget, here is a simple four-part plan for coupon shopping.

step 1

Clip coupons

Coupon shopping begins by creating a stockpile of coupons to draw from. To be a coupon shopper, one must have the necessary resources readily available. (You can’t learn to drive without a car, can you?) Building your stash is really quite simple. Today’s marketplace is inundated with coupons. They pop up all over the place — on the backs of store receipts, in the Sunday paper, in our mailbox, online — so the resources are there, you just have to be cognizant and commit a little time to it. As you run across coupons that interest you, clip them and store them in a central location for future use.

step 2

Organize coupons

As your coupon collection builds, make it more efficient and effective by applying a bit of organization to your hoard. There are several ways to organize (by category, by product, by manufacturer, etc.), but the most vital criterion is expiration date. Keep the coupons ordered so that the ones with the earliest expiry date are on the top of the stack. Organizing your coupons this way will ensure that your collection stays updated, that your efforts aren’t in vain, and that you don’t miss out on any great deals for your coupon shopping.